Glasgow

I was thrilled to see my dad enter the lobby in Glasgow! We had both travelled overnight to get there so even at 9 in the morning we were beat. We had  both eaten breakfast so we headed out to walk around. We discovered Buchanan street which is a shopping area that is closed off to most traffic. We walked to central station and around the old area before heading back towards our hotel, stopping at a Starbucks for a tea and coffee, and a bit of wifi. By this time it was almost lunch time so we headed back to the hotel where we were able to check in and drop off our bags in the room.  I was also able to change my pants as I had worn them right out already with all the walking I've been doing!  Our room is old but nice and the bathroom is huge! It even has a towel warmer although we have no idea how to use it! We ate lunch at the hotel bar, which is actually not attached from the inside, and both had fish and chips! Yum! By then dad, who hadn't slept at all was in need of a lay down so we headed back to the room. While he napped, I researched the Highlands and Glasgow and read my book. After a couple of hours we were ready to go again and went to the tourist information office to find out about tours and what to see in Glasgow. We decided, since we are only here for 2 days that we would see the highlands on a tour from Edinburgh instead. We found out what to see in Glasgow, and then because it was already later in the day we walked around some more. We had a delicious 3 course dinner in the hotel restaurant (dad had haggis stuffed chicken) and then we were both ready for bed.

This morning I woke up and first and got ready while my dad slept on (I couldn't believe it either!). I finally woke him up so we wouldn't miss the breakfast we had paid for. We headed downstairs and had a delicious buffet breakfast. Dad is sick unfortunately so was feeling pretty bad all day.  Afterwards we headed out and saw the Cathedral of St Mungo and the Necropolis, one of Scotland's biggest graveyards. We then walked down the road to Glasgow greeen, a park with paths, where we headed to the People's Palace. It was really a fancy community hall that has been converted to a museum. But they had a lovely cafe where we stopped for a break. I had an empire biscuit, which is a cookie my dad bakes at Christmas time and that I have never seen anywhere else! My dad's parents are from Clydebank just to the NW of Glasgow so we took the train there to poke around. After a failed attempt to find a map and a walk through Scotland's biggest mall, Clyde on the former site of the Singer Factory makers of sewing machines, we found Barne street where my grandpa grew up. The house #10, which my dad had been given didn't exist so we headed to the library on the advice of a passerby. What a find! We were able to look at documents showing my great grabdpa's address, which was house #47, and occupation which was riveter (at the shipyard).  We also found my nanny's address based on a family member my dad knew as a child. It was so cool to see their names in these old books. The librarian was so wonderful and gave my dad a website so he can look further into his heritage. We went back to both addresses and took a picture, although my nanny's house is now gone. We just had dinner at a pub called the Counting House where you order your food at the bar and give them your table number.

We are both pooped so off to bed we go! We leave tomorrow for Edinburgh.....perfect timing as we've seen everything we had to see here in Glasgow.